Browsing by Author "Mbidi, Tekla Shipahu Natangwe"

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    Factors associated with participation in continuous professional development activities leading to professional growth of professional nurses working in a public national referral hospital in Namibia.
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03) Mbidi, Tekla Shipahu Natangwe; Damons, Anneleen; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing & Midwifery.
    ENGLISH SUMMARY : In nursing, aspects such as attending in-service training, performing research, continuing professional education (CPE) have been identified as some of the approaches which influence the professional growth of nurses. Professional growth and development for professional nurses must be a fundamental part of nurses’ work environment. However, little is known about the factors that are associated with participation in continuous professional development activities leading to the professional growth of professional nurses in Namibia. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the factors associated with participation in continuous professional development activities lead to the professional growth of professional nurses working in a public national referral hospital in Namibia. A quantitative descriptive correlational case study design was conducted and the researcher targeted the total population of N=342 professional nurses working in a public national referral hospital. No sampling method was applied in this study. Data were collected with a previously validated Q-PDN data collection instrument. Data collection began with a pilot study conducted on 10% (n=34) of professional nurses in the hospital where the main study was conducted. The pilot study yielded consistent and reliable Cronbach alpha (α.848). The pilot study participants were excluded from participating in the main study which involved the distribution of a total of n=270 questionnaires. The return rate of questionnaires for the main study was n=241; an 89% response rate. The data were analysed using SPSS version 24. Pallant’s exploratory factor analysis (EFA) method was used to check the scale validity and reliability of the measures. SPSS AMOS Version 23 was utilised for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modelling (SEM) to determine and confirm the relationships between the constructs in the conceptual framework. Results from the data were presented in tables, figures and flow diagrams. Ethics approval was obtained from Stellenbosch University and from the health facility in which the study was conducted. The study found that psychological empowerment importance factors, effort reward motivation factors, and structural empowerment condition factors, lead to professional growth of professional nurses in Namibia through participation in continuous professional development activities. The relationships between the factors in the final research measurement framework supported the conceptual framework’s professional growth associations linked to participation in continuous professional development activities. The participation in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) factor mediated the relationships between psychological empowerment importance factors and professional growth; structural empowerment conditions factors and professional growth, and effort reward motivation factors and professional growth. However, results found no significant relationship between psychological empowerment importance and structural empowerment conditions. The results provided further evidence for the importance of certification for the professional growth of professional nurses. This means that even if a professional nurse has worked for 10 years and has not obtained a post-graduate qualification he/she would not exhibit and embrace the professional growth concept. It was outlined that individual professional nurses participate in CPD activities for different reasons. Findings imply that nurses should be encouraged to acquire higher certification levels early in their nursing career, as this will have a greater impact on their professional growth. To be recognised as having attained professional growth, professional nurses must have obtained a post-graduate certification in addition to their years of clinical experience. Therefore, it would be ideal if nurse administrators develop and maintain professional nurses’ professional portfolios in order to keep tract of the staff members’ professional skills. Healthcare organisations may need to create better remuneration conditions for certified and experienced nurses to award their efforts and promote staff retention.